On a ship in a storm, whom would you rather have as the captain? Obama or Romney?

Forty-six percent of registered voters named Obama as their preferred captain, while 43 percent chose Romney. Among electorally critical independents, it was even closer on the “captain” question, with Romney taking 44 percent to 43 percent for Obama.

Why is the captain question so important to Romney? Because on virtually every other character attribute question, he is being swamped by Obama.

Who do you think would make a more loyal friend? Fifty percent of registered voters named Obama, while just 36 percent chose Romney. Fifty-two percent said they’d rather invite Obama to a dinner at their house, while just 33 percent chose Romney. Ditto who you’d rather have take care of you when you were sick: 49 percent chose Obama, while 36 opted for Romney.

Dismiss these sorts of poll questions if you want, but they speak to the broader perceptions that people have of the two men running for president. And perception/feel/heart has far more influence in determining how someone votes than do policies/head. Obama is the caring, friendly one. Romney has to be — repeat, HAS TO BE — the competent, trustworthy one.

An “angry crowd” marched on the U.S. compound Tuesday, furious about an American-produced online film considered offensive to Muslims, said Libya’s Deputy Interior Minister Wanis al-Sharif .

The U.S. mission in Egypt was also attacked Tuesday in response to the film depicting the prophet Mohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer.

Stevens was the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in an attack since 1979.

Libya’s Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib apologized “to the American people and the government, and also to the rest of the world” for the “cowardly criminal act.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton identified a second victim as Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information management officer who was a 10-year veteran of the State Department, a husband and a father of two.